We Drove And Rated Every Toyota 4WD SUV Off Road. Here’s How They’re Different, and Similar
Toyota has captured off-roaders' hearts with commanding and capable systems; are they all the same?
Not all that long ago Toyota realized something: People love to off-road. From those who regularly drive miles of ranch land to those who want to climb every mountain because it’s there, to those who relish crawling up a rock face for a truly exclusive view.
And then, there are those for whom “off-road” is a snowy driveway, a steep, rutted road, or a coveted parking spot that takes a bit of curb-climbing to reach (been there, done that).
In all cases, a competent 4WD system, good ground clearance, and proper tires are a must. But does that mean that all Toyota and Lexus 4WD systems are the same?
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
More Demand For 4WD Means More Toyota and Lexus Models
The demand for 4WD has continued to grow and Toyota, with its luxury offshoot Lexus, has continued to oblige. So much so that the differences between some of its vehicles can be subtle and difficult to decipher. Is one more capable than the other? Are some more comfortable than others?
We took all the Toyota and Lexus 4WD SUVs—Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, and Lexus GX and LX—to an off-road course and put them to the test. We did not test the AWD crossovers (such as Corolla Cross, RAV4, Highlander, Grand Highlander, RX, and TX models). And we can say, they are not the same. Here is what we learned, and what you need to know.
Read: Toyota Land Cruiser Vs. Lexus GX: Which Bold and Badass Iconic SUV Should You Buy?
First Things First: The Toyota 4WD SUV Equipment Check
Before setting out in the 4WD SUVs, it’s important to understand how to set up the off-road system. It starts with you: Set your seat high for the best visibility, and of course, set your mirrors and get comfortable. Find the camera button so you know where it is if you need it quickly.
Get comfortable with your pedal position. On our test we actually learned to use the right foot to keep the engine speed at about 1200 RPM and ease on and off the brake to regulate speed; this kept the SUV on a steadier course and kept it from lurching. This can be done by using crawl control, too.
And then, learn the off-road driving modes. Toyota loves multi-function buttons, so you may find a dial that toggles between Drive Modes (eco, normal and sport) and MTS, for multi-terrain select (mud and sand, dirt, snow, rock, and auto). MTS mode is fine for most trails and climbs, even mud and water.
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Setting Up 4WD Functions
More challenging conditions can require 4WD. In this case, put the transmission in neutral and select the mode you want: 4L for low speed driving and 4H for higher speeds; then put the transmission into drive. If you need more assistance, there is crawl control and downhill assist; crawl control is essentially cruise control for off-roading; downhill assist will limit your speed on a steep hill. Toyota’s system allows you to toggle between the two. And, you can lock the rear or center differentials to force the wheels to spin at the same speed for additional traction.
A couple of more important details: when the system is in MTS or 4WD, the forward-facing camera will come on automatically at speeds under 7MPH. And, if you are a fan of brake hold, it will shut off when you’re in 4L to allow crawl control and downhill assist to work properly. This disappointed me; I wanted to use brake hold while waiting for other drivers to climb an obstacle.
While Toyota 4WD SUVs and Lexus 4-wheelers have most or all of these features, they can vary slightly by function, feature location, and name.
And, they can vary greatly by driver and passenger experience. Here’s how the five 4-wheelers showcased on the same off-road track.
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Toyota 4Runner: One of the Most Popular Off-Roaders On the Road
The Toyota 4Runner, which was redesigned for 2024, is the commensurate 4WD SUV and has been for a while, popular among families for its desert-running good looks and its 3rd row that allows for more cargo, more passengers, or a bit of both. Built on the same platform as the Toyota Tacoma, it’s smaller than the full-size Sequoia and, in theory, more capable because it can get through narrower passages and over sharper hills. It’s powered by a twin-turbo 4-cylinder, and the top-of-the-line delivers 323 HP; the mid-range TRD Off-Road model has the same engine but puts out 278 HP.
We really liked the setup of the 4WD controls, though the dial selector takes a bit of learning; Toyota packed all functions, from drive modes to MTS to 4WD, into the same dial.
4Runner offers 12 (yes, 12!) trims, including 5 TRD Off-Road versions. We drove the 4Runner Trailhunter model, the top of the line and enhanced for high-speed trail riding, but it’s good at rock crawling, mudding, and digging through sand, too.
On our drive, we used crawl control to modulate the speed up the hill, but then overrode it, splashing fast into the water, something you should only do when you know what you’re getting into. Later in our drive, we used a downhill descent to control our speed and it did the job nicely.
Overall, the 4Runner was impressive, though it conveyed all its ruggedness. I gave it a 7 for comfort; it was awfully jostly, and a 9 for capability. Natalie Merola, my drive partner, gave it a 10 for capability and 8 for comfort. She was behind the wheel and felt the drive was pretty effortless.
Toyota Land Cruiser Brings Back the Heritage Look and Feel
This is the one we most looked forward to for both its return to the marketplace after serving families for so long (Land Cruiser is no longer offered with a 3rd row) and at the same time, delivering a great off-road experience.
For the new model, which debuted in 2024 and is offered in only two trims, we were disappointed to find the cabin significantly smaller and really only able to accommodate four people, thanks to a huge transmission hump covered by a large plastic cover on the floor between the two rear seats. Even so, the cabin is comfortable with more headroom and elbow room than the 4Runner, and the cargo area is nice and roomy.
Land Cruiser’s drive mode gear is a bit more straightforward and will look familiar to Lexus GX drivers; this SUV is built on the same platform and has many of the same features, though it has a smaller, slightly less powerful 4-cylinder hybrid engine; it delivers 326 HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque and can tow up to 6,000 lbs.
On the course, it was very energetic and didn’t hesitate to toss us around; it was completely capable but we felt we needed to hold on. This is one adventurous ride, and you’ll feel every bit of it. Natalie and I both gave it a 6 for comfort due to the overly bumpy ride, but a 9 for capability, which was stellar.
Is the Toyota Sequoia the SUV For Family 4-Wheeling? Maybe
We love the Sequoia for its roomy cabin and bold presence as well as its 4WD capabilities. Built on the frame of the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck, the Sequoia has three full rows of seats, a captain’s chair option, and can tow up to 9,520 lbs.
However, those who need or want a center row bench may find the 3rd row cumbersome to use thanks to the fold and flip center row seats and cargo space that, with the 3rd row up, is paltry measuring a mere 11 cubic feet and only about 8” wide.
Powered by a twin turbo V6 engine that generates 437 HP and 583 lb.-ft. of torque, the Sequoia showed its muscle on the off-road course. It was our last test of the day and at that point the trail was slick and worn with mud, making it extra slippery. But the Sequoia handled it like the TRD Pro it is, charging through easily and letting us ride in comfort (but not exactly luxury). We did use 4L but we’re pretty sure we didn’t need to; the Sequoia was very powerful on all surfaces.
Natalie gave it a 7 for comfort and a 9 for capability and I agreed; it was more capable than I’d have thought for its size, but wish it had been more comfortable.
4-Wheeling In Luxury in the Lexus GX
Knowing this luxury SUV shares its underpinnings with the Land Cruiser made me skeptical; I expected the same rough ride the Land Cruiser delivered, but instead, the Lexus GX Overtrail easily crawled up the hill, over the rocky road, and through the articulation pits.
While we got the thrill of seeing the horizon dip and pitch, I didn’t feel tossed around. We found the rock mode and the rear locking differential to be helpful on the rock course and didn’t need to or use 4L as we did in some of the other SUVs.
This is a testament to Lexus’s engineering and the mission to give its drivers capability and comfort at the same time. It’s not all in the posh leather seats, it turns out.
It’s also a testament to the more powerful engine, a twin turbo V6 that generates 349 HP and 479 lb.-ft. of torque that can tow up to 9,063 lbs.
Similar to the Land Cruiser, the Lexus GX Overtrail is better suited for four passengers; it doesn’t have a 3rd row like the other trims do, and the middle seat is impeded by the transmission tunnel.
Natalie gave the GX an 8 for comfort and a 9 for capability, as did I. With its heftier price tag, though, we gave it an 8 overall.
The Big Daddy of 4 Wheeling: Lexus LX
This is the one I’d looked forward to all day: The full-size, fully luxe Lexus LX. We drove the 700h Overtrail model, a hybrid that delivers more power, at 457 HP and 583 lb.-ft. of torque and marginally better fuel economy at about 20 MPG (the 600 brings power down by about 48 HP and MPG by about 1).
Inside, however, the LX 700h offers three full rows of luxury with leather seating and passenger amenities like USB ports and air vents, though it has even less cargo capacity behind the 3rd row than the Lexus GX.
Probably its biggest advantage, though, is its size. It just ambles over everything like it’s not even there: Hills, articulation pits, the rock road, even the water obstacle. The LX 700h just owned the day. If you want to feel the course, this isn’t for you. If you don’t want to wake the baby or alarm the dog, this is the way to go.
The two caveats, besides the $100K+ price tag, are that, like the Sequoia, this large SUV can’t go everywhere thanks to its size. And, it has the same flip and fold center seats that can make 3rd row access awkward, especially for passengers standing in muddy, snowy, or sandy places waiting to climb in.
Still, it was incredibly capable and comfortable. Natalie and I both gave it a 10 for comfort and a 7 for capability, largely due to its size and seating issues.
Which Toyota 4WD SUV Did We Like Best for Off-Roading?
We were on the same page for most of the day with all these SUVs; we agreed on capability and comfort levels. But after driving all the Toyota and Lexus 4WD SUVs, we learned something about ourselves: Natalie is happy to feel the road more than I am if she can have the vibrant good looks and vintage feel of the Land Cruiser.
I, on the other hand, went for a better blend of comfort and ability in the Lexus GX. The Land Cruiser is priced from about $58K and the Lexus GX Overtrail starts at $74 (though the base model starts at $70K), so they are actually not all that far apart in price. For me, the GX was the perfect blend of size and luxury, and all its capability is a bonus. Either way, both are a win.
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